The impact of caring on the income and labour market participation of carers can be substantial. In this article, the authors describe the labour force status of carers who receive an Australian Government payment directed to carers, with a particular focus on the degree to which non-employed carers want to be in paid employment. The extent to which having caring responsibilities has a causal impact upon labour force participation, and the job changes that employed carers have made as a consequence of their caring responsibilities are also explored, as are the implications of paid work for the income of carers.